Home electrification
Home electrification in Los Angeles
VoltGen Energy does the electrical work for switching a home from gas to electric in Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and Studio City: 240-volt circuits for an induction range, a heat pump water heater, heat pump heating and cooling and an electric dryer, plus the load calculation that says whether your panel can carry them. We check the panel first, so you upgrade only if the numbers say you need to.
What each appliance needs
- Induction range or cooktop
- Usually a 240-volt circuit, commonly 40 or 50 amps, per the nameplate. A gas range only had a 120-volt outlet, so this is new wire from the panel.
- Heat pump water heater
- Usually a dedicated 240-volt circuit. Some 120-volt models plug in near the old tank and need no panel change.
- Heat pump heating and cooling
- A dedicated 240-volt circuit and a disconnect at the outdoor unit; ducted systems may need a second circuit for the air handler.
- Electric or heat pump dryer
- A standard electric dryer needs a 240-volt, 30 amp circuit. Many heat pump dryers run on 240 volts too; some run on 120.
- EV charger
- Often part of the same plan. See EV charger installation.
The panel check comes first
Adding four large appliances to a house that was built for gas is the moment a panel question comes up. The answer comes from a load calculation, not from the age of the panel. We add up what the house already uses and what you plan to add. Then we tell you one of three things: the panel has room, it has room with the right appliance choices or a load-sharing device, or the service needs an upgrade. Older panels such as Federal Pacific and Zinsco are a separate question, covered in our Federal Pacific and Zinsco guide.
How we handle an electrification job
- Walk-through: the panel, the appliance locations and the wire routes.
- Load calculation and a written plan, in the order you want to replace things.
- Permit with your city: LADBS in the City of Los Angeles, or Burbank, Glendale or Pasadena Building and Safety.
- New circuits, and panel or service work if the load calculation calls for it, coordinated with your utility.
- Inspection, a finaled permit and an itemized invoice, which utility rebates commonly ask for.
You do not have to do it all at once. Many owners switch the water heater when the old one fails and the range during a kitchen remodel. Planning the panel for the whole list up front avoids paying for the same wall opening twice.
Guides that go deeper
- Rebates for panel upgrades, heat pump water heaters and electrification (LADWP, Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale)
- Cost to add a 240-volt circuit or subpanel
- Electrical panel upgrade cost in Los Angeles
- How long a panel or service upgrade takes
- Kitchen remodel electrical, including induction
By city: Glendale, Studio City and the Valley, all service areas.
VoltGen Energy operates under Akopi Builders, CSLB #1112420. Electrical work is performed by licensed C-10 electrical contractors. Check the license at CSLB.
Electrification questions
What electrical work do I need to switch my home from gas to electric?
Usually a new 240-volt circuit for each gas appliance you replace (range, water heater, furnace or air conditioner, dryer), a load calculation to see whether the panel can carry them, and sometimes a panel or service upgrade. Often the house needs less than people expect: a load calculation, the right appliance choices and load-sharing equipment can keep a 100 or 125 amp service. We tell you which it is before you buy equipment.
Do I need a new circuit for a heat pump water heater?
Most full-size heat pump water heaters need a dedicated 240-volt circuit. A gas water heater has no circuit at all, so this is usually new wire from the panel. Some newer 120-volt models are made to plug into an outlet near the old water heater, which can avoid a panel change. The manufacturer's installation instructions set the circuit size, and your inspector has the final say.
What circuit does an induction range need?
Most full-size induction ranges need a 240-volt circuit, commonly 40 or 50 amps; the range's nameplate and installation manual give the exact rating. A kitchen that had a gas range usually has only a 120-volt outlet behind it, so the new circuit runs from the panel. Some new induction ranges have a built-in battery and plug into a standard 120-volt outlet. What a 240-volt circuit typically costs.
Does a heat pump HVAC system need its own circuit?
Yes. The outdoor unit needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit sized from its nameplate and a disconnect within sight of the unit. A ducted system's indoor air handler may need a second circuit, especially with backup electric heat strips. If the house had a gas furnace and an air conditioner, the old air conditioner circuit may or may not be large enough.
Will I have to upgrade my panel to go all-electric?
Not always. A load calculation under the California Electrical Code tells you whether the existing service can carry the new appliances. If it is close, appliance choices, a circuit-sharing device or a smart panel may get you there without a service upgrade. If the service really is too small, the upgrade goes through your utility: LADWP, Burbank Water and Power, Glendale Water & Power or Pasadena Water and Power. Panel and service upgrades.
Are there rebates for home electrification?
Your electric utility is the place to look. LADWP, Burbank Water and Power and Pasadena Water and Power each pay rebates on some heat pump water heaters or heat pumps, and Burbank and Pasadena have panel incentives tied to electrification. California's HEEHRA rebates are fully reserved, and the federal home improvement credit ended for work installed after 2025. Utility rebate amounts and conditions.
Who does whole-home electrification in Los Angeles?
VoltGen Energy plans and installs the electrical side of home electrification in Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and Studio City: load calculation, new circuits, panel work, permits and inspection. VoltGen Energy operates under Akopi Builders, CSLB #1112420. Electrical work is performed by licensed C-10 electrical contractors.
Planning to go electric?
Call with the appliances you want to replace and a photo of your panel. We will tell you what the load check involves.